FDACS Citation 6-501.14: Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source

Overview

FDACS citation 6-501.14 (Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source) is a General violation under Chapter 6 (Physical Facility) of the FDA Food Code, with 64 citations in the past 12 months across 460 Florida facilities. General food safety requirement.

Sourced from Florida FDACS public inspection records, Jan 2022–present.

GeneralPriority Level
Ch. 6Physical Facility
64Citations (12 mo)
482Total Citations
460Facilities Cited

Under Florida FDACS inspection rules, citation 6-501.14 (Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source) is a general violation addressing Physical Facility standards.

What the Code Says

6-501.14 — Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source

Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source
of contamination by dust, dirt, or other materials; or ventilation system vented to the outside creates a public
health hazard or nuisance or unlawful discharge.

— FDA Food Code / Florida FDACS Inspection Standards (FAC 5K-4)

Priority Classification

General (General): General food safety requirement.

Florida FDACS uses the FDA Food Code priority system — Priority (P) violations have a direct link to foodborne illness; Priority Foundation (Pf) violations support food safety systems; Core (C) violations are good retail practices with no direct illness link.

Citations by County

Florida counties with the most 6-501.14 citations
CountyCitations
Volusia46
Lee24
Pinellas20
Miami-Dade20
Suwannee16
Union16

Most Cited Facilities

Florida FDACS facilities most cited for 6-501.14
FacilityCityTimes CitedLast Cited
Ocean Breeze Fish Market Tampa 3 Aug 29, 2024
Coquito's Latin Fusion Lake City 2 Dec 23, 2025
Afsan & Thiham Enterprise INC. Okeechobee 2 Dec 19, 2025
El Famoso Borinquen Meat Market INC Tampa 2 Oct 21, 2025
Vw Walmart 5453 Cape Coral 2 Sep 17, 2025
Vw Publix 1500 Deland 2 Jul 2, 2025
Summerfield Chevron Riverview 2 May 14, 2025
Mekatos Bakery Miami 2 Oct 22, 2024

Recent Inspector Observations

Super Star K # 4100, Lauderdale Lakes—

Food service - Heavy accumulation of grease on the vent hood above the fryer units.

7-eleven Store #42058h, Lakeland—

Front food service area: Grease build-up on hood vent. Grease droplets observed on bottom portion of hood vent.

Publix # 0631, Jacksonville—

Deli department - Vents over deep fryers not clean, excessive build up. Bakery department Vents over deep bakery oven not clean, excessive build up.

Winn Dixie # 0144, Macclenny—

Bakery department - Hoods above bakery oven not clean, excessive grease build up.

Walgreens # 3472, Palm Coast—

Walk-in Cooler on Retail Floor: Ventilation covers contain build up of dirt and residue

Dollar General # 13082, Belleview—

Back Room - Unisex employee restroom air vents were observed to not be cleaned at a frequency to prevent the accumulation of dust.

Frequently Cited Alongside 6-501.14

6-501.11

Physical facilities not maintained in good repair

402 co-citations

2-501.11

Establishment does not have written procedures for employees to follow when

227 co-citations

6-501.12

Physical facilities not cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean, or cleaning

221 co-citations

5-501.11

Receptacles and waste handling units for refuse, recyclables, and returnables not

180 co-citations

3-501.16(A)(2)

Cold held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 41°F or below

141 co-citations

4-903.11(A)

Single-service or single-use articles not stored in a clean, dry location; at least 6

139 co-citations

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FDACS citation code 6-501.14?
FDACS citation 6-501.14 (Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source) is a General violation under Chapter 6 (Physical Facility) of the FDA Food Code. Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source of contamination by dust, dirt, or other materials; or ventilation system vented to the outside creates a public health hazard or nuisance or unlawful discharge.
How serious is FDACS violation 6-501.14 (Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source)?
General (General): General food safety requirement. This code has been cited 482 times across 460 Florida FDACS-regulated facilities.
Which types of Florida food businesses receive citation 6-501.14?
FDACS inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines. Citation 6-501.14 (Intake or exhaust air ducts not cleaned or filters not changed and they are a source) has been cited at 460 such facilities across Florida, with 64 citations in the past 12 months.
What does a General FDACS violation mean?
A General FDACS violation means: General food safety requirement. FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) uses this classification system — Priority (P), Priority Foundation (Pf), and Core (C) — aligned with the FDA Food Code.

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